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Write a note on plot construction of Jane Austen with reference to Pride and Prejudice.

Jane Austen was an artist, as accompanised artist in her own right. There are following characteristics in her plot construction :

1. Well knit Plots : She put great care and thought on the construction of the plots of her novels and as a result of her industry, her plots are well knit. There is nothing superfluous or irrelevant in her novels. These plots are marked with simplicity, symmetry and precision. The story is not encumbered with religious, moral or philosophical abstructions and speculations. There are no superfluous or obtrusive characters, no episodes which obstruct the progress or movement and also no loose ends left dangling at the end. Her art of plot construction compels us to admire her. There is a complete interdependence between main plot and sub-plots. There is perfect organic unity of interplay between characters and events.

2. Blending of Plots: The main plot of the novel is Elizabeth Darcy affair. Apart from it, there are three subplots-Jane-Bingley Affair, Lydia-Wickham Affair and Charlotte-Collins Affair. The sub-plots are essential to organic whole and contribute to the progress of the main plot. Interlinking between main plot and sub-plots can be observed in not only ‘Pride and Prejudice’ but also in other novels of Jane Austen. The plots of her novels are compound, consisting of several pairs of lovers proceeding across several love courses. But her essential craftsmanship lies in her deft and skilful handling of various strains and always keeping these sub-plots subordinate to the main. plot.

3. Plot Symmetry: The action of the novel takes place at three sets of places. The first set takes place at Longbourn and Netherfield. The second set takes place at Rosings and the third set takes place of Pemberley and Longbourn. Various events and occurances in the novel balance each other to give symmetry to the plot. The visit of Bingley and Darcy at Netherfield towards the beginning promises hope but ends in faiture. Other visit at Netherfield by Bingley and Darcy towards the end apprehend trouble and gloom but ends in fulfilment. Similarly, there are two marriage symmetrically place-one towards the beginning Charlotte and Collins and the other between Lydia and Wickham towards the end.

4. Sequence of Events: A story, naturally, deals with a number of events through which the story develops towards its peak. There are many incidents and events in the novel Pride and Prejudice’. These incidents and events follow a natural and logical order. For example, the arrival of Bingley and Darcy at Netherfield park not only brings Elizabeth and Darcy together but also starts the conflict between the pride of Darcy on one and the Prejudice of Elizabeth on another at Ball. This prejudice of Elizabeth deepens through various incidents whereas Darcy falls in love with Elizabeth. He proposes marriage to Elizabeth in an insulting manner and Elizabeth very naturally and promptly turns down. The events that follow, help in dimensioning the pride of Darcy and prejudice of Elizabeth against him and ultimately helps in acceptance of Darcy’s proposal by Elizabeth.

5. Dramatic Element: The novels of Jane Austen are known as novels of conversation rather than that of action. So, an element of drama can be observed in all the novels of Jane Austen. Dramatic elements in Pride and Prejudice’ can be observed as follows:

(i) Darcy and Elizabeth come together and the later part of the novel develops through conflict between pride of Darcy and prejudice of Elizabeth.

(ii) During the development of story a reversal of attitude occurs.

(iii) The story develops more through dialogue than through action.

(iv) Characters are also developed through dialogues, not through description and analysis.

6. Harmony between Character and Action: It is a essential characteristic of a novel that there must be harmony between characters and action. Jane Austen is undoubtedly the master of this art.

In Pride and Prejudice’, we find that Jane Austen has maintained the harmony and correspondence between her characters and action of the novel. It is interesting to note that a good plot should avoid coincidences as much as possible. But, coincidence of the novel do not obtrude on the aesthetic sense of the reader.

7. Plot Unity: Themes of the novels of Jane Austen are the same. Love and marriage in the central theme. The central situation is the search for husbands by girls of marriageable age helped and encouraged by their equally egar and earnest mothers and aunts. The same element may be observed in Pride and Prejudice’. Its all four marriage alliances, three of the sub-plots and one of the main plot is quite evident of the plot or theme unity.

Summing up, it may be said that an account of her exquisite craftmanship and tactful handling of her material and working within her limited range. Jane Austen is almost a perfect artist and is called a pure novelist.